Dioxygen Activation in Non-heme Iron Enzymes

Submitted by Gerard Rowe / University of South Carolina Aiken on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 09:26
Description

This lecture provides a short introduction to the other half of biological iron chemistry:  enzymes that do not contain a porphyrin group that ligates the iron atom.  There are several important applications for non-heme iron in cells, both mammalian and bacterial.  Oxygen activating non-heme iron enzymes fall into a few basic categories and includes mononuclear iron monooxygenases and dioxygenases, and binuclear iron monooxygenases. The requirements to activate and utilize dioxygen will be given.

Catalysis: Copper-Mediated Cross Coupling Reactions

Submitted by Sibrina Collins / College of Arts and Sciences at Lawrence Technological University on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 14:29
Description

This in-class activity introduces students to copper-mediated cross coupling reactions. In the literature, many cross coupling reactions are often discussed using palladium as a catalyst, not copper. In my laboratory, we are synthesizing 7-azaindole-based ligands for the development of potential anti-tumor platinum(II) complexes. In addition, I use one of my own publications to demonstrate an application of this synthetic strategy. The students calculate the actual turnover number (TON) and turnover frequency (TOF) for the copper catalyst.

Literature Discussion on “Mechanisms for the Activation of Carbon Monoxide via Oxorhenium Complexes.”

Submitted by Nicole Crowder / University of Mary Washington on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 09:54
Description

This is intended as a guided reading assignment for the JACS Communication, “Mechanism for the Activation of Carbon Monoxide via Oxorhenium Complexes” by Smeltz, Boyle, and Ison; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 13288-13291. This article will expose students to newly published research and novel reaction mechanisms. It will require students to apply their knowledge of electron counting and organometallic mechanisms.

Deciphering Mechanisms of Organometallic Reactions

Submitted by Nicole Crowder / University of Mary Washington on Thu, 07/19/2012 - 09:42
Description

A detailed in-class analysis of the paper “Mechanism for the Activation of Carbon Monoxide via Oxorhenium Complexes” by Smeltz, Boyle, and Ison; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 13288-13291.  Students will apply their knowledge of organometallic chemistry concepts to the mechanistic scheme in the paper.

Simple synthesis of MoO2(acac)2 and evaluation of spectra

Submitted by Patricia Stan / Taylor University on Mon, 07/16/2012 - 15:23
Description

A very simple lab synthesis that allows the student to carry out a coordination reaction and then look at the NMR and IR spectra.  I use this as a first lab to introduce them to using the NMR and IR.  If students work through the spectroscopy tutorial they should be able to explain the IR and NMR spectra.

Distinguishing Between Metal Catalysts for Inner- and Outer-Sphere C-H Bond Functionalization

Submitted by David R. Weinberg / Colorado Mesa University on Mon, 07/16/2012 - 14:13
Description

This activity is meant to teach students about the types of homogeneous transition metal C-H bond functionalization catalysts. Before class, the students will read a short discussion of inner- and outer-sphere C-H bond functionalization catalysts. Then they will use their knowledge of transition metal oxidation states and ligands in order to assess whether a variety of catalysts react via inner- or outer-sphere pathways.

Application of Organometallic Chemistry – Breaking the Inert C-H Bond

Submitted by John Lee / University of Tennessee Chattanooga on Mon, 07/16/2012 - 11:39
Description

This learning object is a literature discussion based on a paper published in Nature (Labinger, J. A.; Bercaw, J. E. Nature 2002, 417, 507-514; doi:10.1038/446391a) discussing the mechanisms of C-H activation by transition metal complexes. This is a topic that could be covered at the end of a section on organometallic chemistry that shows a “newer” application.

Assignment of thiocyanate bonding mode by FT-IR data

Submitted by Anne Ryter / Western State Colorado University on Mon, 07/16/2012 - 11:16
Description

This in class activity focuses on the ambidentate ligand thiocyanate.  Students compare data for known compounds to data for unknowns to make the bonding assignments. Data is provided from Baer, C.; Pike, J. J. Chem. Ed. 2010, 87, 724 where the authors  have the students synthesize all the compounds and then complete the data analysis.  My course does not include a lab component but I want the students to use literature to support their learning.

The Covalent Bond Classification (CBC) website

Submitted by Chip Nataro / Lafayette College on Thu, 05/17/2012 - 09:27
Description

The covalent bond classification (CBC) method is a way to count electrons for transition metal compounds. It classifies ligands based on their type, either L, X or Z. This is the website for all things CBC. It contains a library which list useful materials for teaching CBC including books that teach the CBC method. The site also has teaching materials that contain MLX plots for all of the transition metals. The MLX plots are charts that show various electron counts and valence for a given metal.

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